Netherlands approved for ground-launched AMRAAM-ER missiles

The Netherlands is to arm its NASAMS ground-based air-defence system (pictured above) with the AMRAAM-ER missile. (Kongsberg)

The US government has cleared the sale of the extended range (ER) variant of the RTX AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) to the Netherlands.

Announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 13 June, the approval for the AMRAAM-ER covers 174 missiles and related equipment, spares, support, and training for an estimated USD678 million.

“The proposed sale will improve the Netherlands' capability to meet current and future threats by providing advanced air-defence missiles as part of an upgraded medium-range air-defence system and thereby enhancing its air-defence capability. This enhanced capability will protect the Netherlands and local allied forces and will significantly improve the Netherlands' contribution to NATO integrated air and missile defence,” the DSCA said.

The AMRAAM-ER missile is a new, ground-launched variant of the air-to-air AMRAAM that is designed to intercept targets at longer distances and higher altitudes. The AMRAAM-ER missile gets its boost in range from a larger rocket motor and optimised flight-control algorithms, according to RTX.

For the Netherlands, the AMRAAM-ER will equip the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) ground-based air-defence units it announced it was ordering in June 2023. NASAMS is owned by 12 countries, with the first AMRAAM-ER missile flight test being successfully completed in the second quarter of 2021. Production deliveries commenced in 2022.

For more information on the AMRAAM, please seeAIM-120 Advanced Medium‐Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) .